The Content of Selenium and Its Chemical Form in Rain Water and Aerosol in Tokyo

Abstract

Selenium content and its chemical form in rain water and aerosol in Tokyo was studied during the period from June 1975 through the end of 1977. Analysis of selenium was carried out by fluorometric method. The content of total selenium in rain water ranged from 5ng 1-1 to 118ng 1-1 with an average value of 69ng 1-1. Most of selenium in rain water was in tetravalent state which occupied 0.5 to 0.9 in the total. And the rest of selenium in rain water was present in particulate forms.
On the other hand, the content of selenium in aerosol in Tokyo ranged from 1.7ng m-3 to 4.2ng m-3 with an average of 3.0ng m-3. It was found that the chemical form in a water soluble part of selenium in aerosol is tetravalent ion, and its ratio to total is 0.5 to 0.6.